Tina Shah Pulls In Over $260K Within Hours Of Launching Congressional Campaign

India-West Staff Reporter

WESTFIELD, NJ — Dr. Tina Shah raised more than $260,000 within 24 hours of launching her campaign for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th District, a powerful opening salvo in what’s expected to be one of the country’s most competitive House races. Her campaign reported that the haul is not only the highest single-day fundraising figure in the race to date but also one of the strongest nationally for any challenger.

Shah, a practicing ICU physician and first-generation Indian American, is making healthcare reform the centerpiece of her bid to unseat Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr. “America is in critical condition, and it’s getting worse,” she said in her announcement, pointing to her opponent’s record on Medicaid and billionaire tax breaks. “While Congressman Tom Kean Jr. votes to cut Medicaid in Washington, I’ve dedicated my entire life to serving my patients and my community.”

Shah’s entry into the race blends a personal story with a professional mission. Raised by immigrant parents who stressed the importance of family, education, and strong community, Shah said those values shaped her decision to become an ICU doctor — treating patients at their most vulnerable.

But after witnessing the dysfunction of the U.S. healthcare system up close — from rising costs to insurance denials — she shifted toward policy reform. Over the years, she’s served in three presidential administrations, where she spearheaded the first federal plan to combat clinician burnout and expand access to care for veterans. Back in New Jersey, she helped pass legislation curbing insurance denials. Most recently, she served as Chief Medical Officer at an AI startup focused on reducing bureaucratic burdens in medicine.

Her campaign has framed the race as a battle between compassion and extremism. Shah has directly called out both Donald Trump and RFK Jr. for slashing medical research and warned that Kean’s votes in Congress have hurt working families.

Political analysts are already calling NJ-07 one of the most competitive races of 2026. The University of Virginia’s Center for Politics has rated the district a “toss-up,” and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has listed Kean’s seat among its top targets.

Shah says her early momentum shows that voters are eager for change — and ready to elect someone who has spent her life fighting to fix what’s broken.